Self-service store



c. NIX ET AL SELF SERVICE STORE Filed May 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Shae; 1

Get. 23, 1928. 1,688,551

T. C. NIX ET AL SELF SERVI CE STORE Filed May 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

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TOMMIE c. NIX AND PATENT o FIcE.

MAOOND. MIL EnoF' HAZEL, KENTUCKY, 'ASSIGNORS T070. A.

HARKER, JR, or PURYEAR, TENNESSEE;

snnr snnvron s'ronn.

Application filed May 20,

This invention relates to a self.service store and it is an object of the invention to provide an arrangement wherein is provided an aisle having disposed along one side thereof merchandise to be purchased and a continuous carrier traveling along the opposite side of the aisle, said carrier providing means whereby the articlesselected by a cus-. tomer may be carried to a checking station to be claimed by the customer prior to exit.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a store system with an endless carrier comprising a plurality of hingedly con nected baskets or containers adapted to re-v ceive various articles of merchandise as sev lected by the customer to relieve the 'customer the inconvenience of carrying such articles to a checking station or cashier.v

The novel features of ourinvention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order that our invention may be the better understood, we will now proceed to describe the same with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein V Figure l is a diagrammatic view intop plan illustrating a self-service store 'constructed in accordance with an embodiment of our invention; l Figure 2 is a fragmentary view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation of a portion of the fixtures employed in connection withthe system as herein disclosed;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view.

in top plan of the carrier as herein em bodied; a

Figure i is a fragmentary view'partly' in section and partly in elevation, the line of section being transversely of the structure shown in Figure 3.

As herein disclosed, our improved store system comprises a salesroom S provided with an entrance opening 1 preferably arranged at the transverse center of the room S and to each side of which opening may be arranged the front display windows 2.

Arranged at the central portion of the room S is an endless carrier C disposed somewhat in the fashion of an oval and arranged along and spaced from the side stretches of the carrier C and substantially conforming to the inner end portion of such carrier are the shelvings 3 adapted to contain in desired arrangement the merchandise to be sold. By the shelving 3 it is to be understood that we have in mind any storefixture which may carrier.

1926. Serial no. 110,486.

be employed for the display of merchandise and for which reason the portion 3? of the shelving is so constructed as to have'arranged thereon vegetables, fruits orv other perishable products. The rear portion of the shelving is sofconstructed toprovide a convenient entrance 4 to a rear storeroom R.

Within the field of the room S definedby thecarrier C are suitably designed and constructed displaycounters 5 preferably arranged adjacent to the opposite ends of the Arranged between the forward counter 5 and the front endportion of the carrier C is a table 6 for the cashierjor kindred attendant. The space between the shelvings or store fixtures 3 and the carrier C constitutes an aisle A for the customers, the entrance to the aisle A being under control of the stile 7 and the exit under control of the stile 8.

cured a substantially V-shaped member 11',

the apex of which being inwardly disposed with its extremities terminating adjacent to; the ends of such basket or COIltZtlIlQI' fli) onep I 7;! The carrier C travels upon a continuousside thereof and extending slightly beyond.

' said side of the bottom 12 of the containeror basketlO. The extremities of each of fthe members 11 are pivotally connected, as at 14, with the extremities of the inembers 11 of the adjacent baskets. or containers so that in the travel of the carrierthe'baskets or containers 10ers capable ofrequisite movementat'the curved end portions of the path of the carrier. I

The bottom 12 of each of the baskets or containers 10 extends beyond the side ofthe basket or container proper and is provided therealong with an upstanding rack 15 disposed lengthwise thereof so that in the straight portions of the carrier the racks of adjacent baskets or containers 10 are aligned. A suitably supported motor M is arranged within the field defined by the carrier C and drives a suitably supported shaft 16 carry ing a gear 17 meshing with the racks 15 whereby the carrier C is caused to travel at desired speed. p I

Each of the baskets or containers 10, or

'more particularly the bottom 1.2 thereof, is

provided with the depending wheels '18 and 19, the wheel 18 traveling on a metallic track 2O disposed along the outer marginal portion of the counter 9 while the wheel 19 travels within a guide groove 21 disposed along the inner marginal portion of the counter 9. This guide groove 21 serves to causethe carrier C to have movement in a fixed path of travel. It is also to be understood that the hinged connections 14 herein-' )revcnt an articles or material fallin or accumulating below the baskets or containers 10 which would'otherwise hinder or obstruct the requisite travel thereof.

7 The forward end of the counter 9 has arranged therebelow a plurality of bins 23 while within the aisle A inwardly of but preferably in close proximity to the exit stile 8 is a customer counter 24 having an inwardly disposed extension 25 extending over or bridging the adjacent portion of the carrier C. When a customer first enters the store he is given checks or tickets all bearing the same number. He then passes through the stile? into the aisle A, selects an article from the shelvings 3 after which he places such article together with a ticket in one of the baskets or containers 10. As the con tainers reach the station or bridge 25 the attendant at such station takes out the various articles and ticketsand places them in the bins 23, the articles with similar tickets being placed in a' selected bin. Before the customer makes his exit 'he notifies the cashier of his number and who in turn so informs the attendant'at the bridge or station 25 who wraps up the articles assorted under 7 such number in one of the bins 23 and delivers the same to the customer over the counter 24:. q

Through the medium of the carrier C the customer is relieved of the necessity of carry ing the various articles selected and the carrier C preferably carries at a speed in excess of that expected by the customer so that by the time the customer reaches the bridge or station 25 the cashier will have had full opportunity to itemize and list the thought to be obvious that a self-service store constructed in accordance with our invention isparticularly'well adapted :tor use by reason of the convenience and faclhty with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the prlnciples and spirit thereof and for this reason'wedo not wish to be understood as hmitmg'ourselves to the. precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carryingv out our inventionin practice except as .li'ereinafter claimed. 7 i

We claim; In a store fixture, a

counter, a plurality of containers having traction means movable over sa d trackways, V-shaped members attached tothe bottoms of said containers with their. endsprojecting beyond one end of the containers,meansifor supporting counter, spaced endless trackways upon the top of said pivotally connecting the ends or" the V- shapedmembers of adjacent containers, upstandin racks carried by the containers at one'end thereof, and means engageable with v the racks for imparting movement, to the containers over the top of said supporting counter.

In testimony whereof We hereuntoarhx our signatures. TOMMIE G. NIX. MACON D. MILLER, 

